Chapter 65

“The first program is self-introduction time in pairs. Everyone, make sure to properly introduce yourselves to your partner.”

Something surprisingly normal just started!

I was sure we’d be doing something more terrifying, but this is a perfectly legitimate training session for new hires.

I probably shouldn’t do this with Mary. That wouldn’t count as training. And since Cerulia isn’t technically a trainee, she’s even more out of the question.

“Shall we?”

A person in a mask with a feminine voice approached me. Well, given the small number of people, it’s only natural to call out to a stranger.

“Yes, nice to meet you. By the way, my familiar Cerulia is with me.”

“I look forward to our time together. I am Cerulia, a succubus.”

Cerulia bowed politely. The masked woman gave a small nod. Everyone split off into the available open spaces.

First, the Chairman said, “Self-introductions start from one side.”

Alright, I’m going to show off my communication skills. I won’t let her think I’m just some boring guy who only knows how to work.

“I’ll go first then,” the masked girl said. I replied, “Go ahead.”

Suddenly, she whipped off her pointed mask and threw it aside.

“Hah-hah-hah-hah! I am Alienor, a direct descendant of the noble Carlyle family, who have practiced black magic for generations in the hallowed Morco Woods! You would do well to remember this name for when the time comes to beg for your life!”

This girl with wavy hair was saying some incredibly arrogant things!

“Wait, what? Isn’t this supposed to be self-introduction time?”

“Master, for a black mage, a self-introduction is often an assertion of dominance,” Cerulia whispered in my ear. I think I get it now, but calling this a self-introduction is a bit much, isn’t it?!

The girl who called herself Alienor glared at me.

“Hey, you. You probably thought you were a step ahead of everyone else by having a high-ranking succubus as a familiar, didn’t you? Well, you’re dead wrong if you think that’s enough to outshine me! Allow me to call my own familiar, ‘Limric of the Blue Crow’! Enri, banra, hirundirke, gigu, ranfi…”

That’s the same incantation I used to summon Cerulia.

While chanting, Alienor busily picked up her discarded mask and reached her hand inside.

“Come forth!”

Sure enough, a blue crow poked its head out.

“Behold! This is ‘Limric of the Blue Crow’! A veteran of over three hundred hunts! He is in no way inferior to that succubus of yours!”

I gave my honest impression: “Oh, a blue crow. That’s actually really cool!”

“H-hey! Why are you impressed?! Why do you have that ‘Wow, amazing!’ look on your face?! You’re supposed to look more frustrated!”

Alienor seemed to be losing her rhythm.

“Eh? But I really do think it’s impressive…”

“I’d love to have a beautiful crow like that as a pet. Come to think of it, crows are said to be very intelligent among birds, aren’t they?” Cerulia added.

“Hey! Stop talking about him like he’s a pet! He’s a familiar! A familiar! He’s my partner!”

Other masked trainees were whispering nearby. “Oh, he’s a natural at taunting,” and “That guy over there is pretty good.” I was being praised for something I didn’t even intend to do.

“Gunu-nu… That’s not all. The magic I use is also terrifying. Orti, baran, torquet, darfeel…”

“Wait, isn’t that Life Drain?!”

“Correct! Now, experience my terror firsthand!”

I felt a sensation similar to a light flick on the finger.

“Phew… well? I’ve drained your physical strength. You probably can’t even stand up anymore, can you?!”

“No, I’m perfectly fine.”

“That was quite elementary, wasn’t it?” Cerulia remarked.

“Damn it! Mocking me again! In that case, I’ll summon a Poison Scorpion! Enri, banra, han, own, dawn!”

A tiny scorpion, about three centimeters long, appeared.

“Oh, how cute~,” Cerulia said, picking it up effortlessly.

“Is the poison okay?” I asked.

“At this size, I doubt I’d even feel an itch.”

“Curse you! You two just keep making a fool of me! Fine, then let’s see you introduce yourselves and show me just how great you think you are!”

I see. No wonder the President said communication skills didn’t matter… Black mages basically never hang out together. No wonder the industry can’t gain any power… You can’t build a big corporation with this mindset. That’s why they’re gradually being wiped out by the white magic industry.

First, I took off the mask I’d been wearing. Cerulia followed suit.

“My name is Franz. After graduating from the Royal Capital International Magic School this past March, I joined the Necrogrant Black Magic Company on the outskirts of the capital. I currently live in the company dormitory.”

“Why are you giving a normal self-introduction?! Are you mocking me?!”

She’s so noisy. It’s actually harder to give the kind of self-introduction that picks a fight!

“The thing I’m most proud of in my professional life so far is… let’s see…”

Cerulia whispered, “It might be better to keep quiet about summoning Mary-san.” Ah, right. That incident had a pretty big impact on the ‘black’ companies in the capital…

“Well, there isn’t much else I can say then… Uh, I’m a Baron. I’m the Lord of a village that’s on the extreme edge of depopulation.”

“What?! You hold a title…?!”

Alienor looked shocked. I guess it’s rare for someone with a title to be involved in the underground world of black magic.

“The other day I visited my territory, and the residents and Marsh Trolls were reasonably grateful.”

“Mumu! You’re saying you have Marsh Trolls as subordinates?!”

No, they aren’t subordinates. Man, this girl is easily startled.

“Anyway… I’ll summon a Poison Scorpion then.”

Summon Poison Scorpion (Poison level selectable: Weak, Medium, Strong)
Since I’ve gained some experience, I can now choose the potency. Let’s try ‘Strong’ for a test.

“Enri, banra, han, own, dawn.”

A massive scorpion about thirty centimeters long appeared.

“Waaaaah! What is that?! There’s no way you should be able to summon something like that!”

Alienor backed away, crow and all.

“I mean, I just summoned it normally, you know?”

“That’s impossible… No matter how you look at it, that thing is definitely deadly!”